Chapter 15 Scarlett #2
“I thought I was supposed to be the one who’s good at reading people,” I try to joke. But when he only gives me a knowing look, I sigh and give him a real answer. “I would say that, yes. I’m basically a hermit.”
Nico’s brow furrows as he mulls over my answer. “So then why’d you move to New York? I understand wanting to try a big city if you grew up in a small Southern town, but…why this city? If you weren’t going to explore it?”
It’s a valid question. One I’ve asked myself more than once over the years.
“I had every intention of experiencing the city when I moved here,” I admit.
“I wanted to see the world, so of course New York City was the best one I could think of.” Lost in my own na?ve memories, I look out toward the stage.
“I had grand visions of going to the best restaurants, finding the coolest bars, living in the city the way the movies always portray. But…I don’t know, I guess reality hit pretty quick.
I grew up a spoiled rich girl, so finding out the world is way more expensive than I thought was a big shock.
” Sucking in a big breath, I turn back to Nico.
“And then once I had money, I no longer had any interest in doing anything.”
The unspoken part of that—that once I started working as an escort, I no longer had the energy to romanticize my life—is loud. When sadness flashes across Nico’s face, I know he at least understands the sentiment.
I try for a smile. “So yes, my goal when I moved here was to explore. But that’s not how life worked out. Instead, I work a part-time job and spend the rest of my time attending an online college.”
“And helping at rescue organizations.”
My head jerks back in surprise. Then I laugh.
Leave it to Nico to put a positive spin on things.
“And helping at rescue organizations,” I agree.
“And taking a chance on a guy by letting him take you to a really cool jazz club.”
My laughter softens as I study him. From any other guy, it would sound like he’s fishing for a compliment. But with Nico…he’s just being honest.
“It wasn’t that big of a chance,” I whisper.
He smiles softly at that and opens his mouth to say something else, but before we can chat any more, the music starts, the first notes of a saxophone sounding through the speakers.
I stare at the musicians, in awe of the soulful magic they’ve created. I’ve never heard anything like it. It doesn’t matter that I grew up in the South, where jazz is prominent. Anything besides classical music was beneath my parents.
“It’s good, right?” Nico whispers. I don’t even look at him as I nod.
He doesn’t speak again, but I can feel him smiling beside me.
Somehow, we stay for the entire concert.
It isn’t until roaring applause breaks out after the band’s last song that I realize we’ve been sitting here for more than two hours. Far longer than I’d intended to stay out tonight.
Clapping politely, I whisper, “We should probably get going.”
He doesn’t argue, just grabs my hand and guides me through the establishment and out to the street.
Suddenly, I’m nervous all over again. Because I’m so far out of my element.
For one, this date wasn’t scheduled through the agency. It wasn’t planned. And it went on far longer than the agreed upon time, with no conversation about an extension.
But more importantly, there hasn’t been any sex.
Panicked, I look around. This is New York; there has to be a hotel around here somewhere. If we can find a hotel, if we can just have sex, I can at least feel like this date was normal, that it was worth it for him. I just need to—
Nico’s whistle and wave for a taxi startles me from my thoughts. “What are you doing?” I ask in shock.
“Calling you a taxi,” he answers, as if I’m not having an existential crisis.
“But—” I look around again, my head whipping in every direction. “Shouldn’t we find a hotel? I’m sure there’s one nearby.”
“Not a chance, Red.”
Frowning, I face him again. “What? Why not? You said you were paying for this date.”
“I am paying for this date,” he says simply.
“But—” I shake my head, at a loss for words. “But you didn’t get anything out of tonight!”
The look he gives me is soft, even tender. “I got exactly what I wanted out of tonight.”
I think I’m gaping at him. “How is that possible? We didn’t even do anything.”
He smiles now, his hand lifting to brush my hair away from my face. “You are so, so wrong, Red.”
Just then, a taxi pulls up at the curb. I stare at it, not computing what’s happening. Especially when Nico pulls a wad of hundreds out of his pocket and slips it casually into my purse, hiding the movement with his body.
“I don’t know how much that is, but it should be at least two thousand.”
Now I’m definitely gaping, eyes wide. “You just walk around with thousands of dollars in your pocket?”
He grins and winks at me. “I can fight, remember?”
“You’re insane,” I breathe. For more than one reason.
“Go straight home with it, okay?” he says, serious this time.
I nod, stuck in a stupor. He guides me into the taxi, then claps his hand against the driver’s door. “Wherever she’s going, get her there safe, yeah?”
And then he comes back to my window, that damn dimple making an appearance. “Just so you know,” he drawls, “this is the kind of date you can expect with me from now on.”
My brow furrows as I search his eyes. “What do you mean?”
He straightens and slides his hands into his pockets. “No more hotels. No more sex. Just fun and conversation.”
I’m not going to survive this man.